Squire Derby Wenk has one goal: sail south to his sick mother. The last person he expects to find on a merchant ship full of ruffians is Lady Lathia Livna — cousin to the queen, daughter of the house he serves, and the last woman in Er'Rets who should be traveling alone.
She's clearly hoping he'll pretend he didn't see her. Not a chance.
But Lady Lathia isn't turning back. When black knights close in and Derby's about to be detained, she blurts the only thing that saves him: "He's my husband!" Now she's trapped inside Volstone Castle in a fake marriage with the squire she spent years outmaneuvering.
Except Derby is not who she thought he was. He swears the Shield Oath — a warrior's vow freely given, when nothing requires it. He's kind. He's steady. He would give his life for her.
And the lie she invented to save him keeps growing inconveniently real.
But someone wants control of Land's End — and they'll burn everything in their path to take it.
She came here to disappear. She never planned on being found.
An epic stand-alone faith-forward romantasy set in Jill Williamson's beloved Er'Rets world — perfect for readers who love slow-burn romance wrapped in political intrigue, a hero who swears to stand in the gap, and a faith that holds when everything burns.
READERS WILL LOVE…
• A fake-marriage romance that starts as a desperate lie and becomes inconveniently, beautifully real.
• A loyal squire hero who keeps showing up — long after duty requires it — and swears to stand between her and all harm.
• A runaway noblewoman who stopped believing in rescue — and the man who can't stop proving her wrong.
• Forced proximity inside a foreign castle, a political conspiracy closing in, and a faith that keeps standing in the gap.
• Clean fantasy romance. Big stakes. No spice. A slow burn that earns every page.
Jill Williamson is an award-winning author of over three dozen books for readers of all ages, best known for her medieval fantasy Blood of Kings stories. In recent years, she has been producing films alongside her writer-director husband. Whether on the page or the screen, Jill is passionate about stories that shine light, explore truth, and endure. She loves encouraging other creatives to respect their dreams and tell meaningful stories.
For more information, visit her at jillwilliamson.com.
Andrew Swearingen is a speculative fiction author who loves writing epic tales of courageous heroes, pulse-pounding adventures, and the occasional sea monster just to keep things interesting. In his nonwriting time, Andrew enjoys hiking in the Shawnee National Forest with his wife, building sprawling Lego cities with his son, and searching for his next favorite nerdy board game.
For more information, visit him at AndrewSwearingen.com.